Bulova 1937 Lone Eagle

Submitted by KHatfull on January 12, 2019 - 11:19pm
Manufacture Year
1937
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Arrow
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
7033854
Case shape
Stepped
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Another eBay pickup, unfortunately not working. Interestingly there are two date code marks, the arrow and the triangle.  What are the reasons for that? Given the serial number I'm going with the arrow and 1937.  The case is clearly a Lone Eagle.  The indices on the subdial are a bit of a mystery.  I don't see non-numbers in '36 or '38 and we don't have '37 adverts with a Lone Eagle. Adverts show a ladder band, obviously mine isn't correct but I think it looks ok. So, 1937 Lone Eagle?

1937 Bulova watch
1937 Bulova watch
1937 Bulova watch
1937 Bulova watch
KHatfull
Posted January 16, 2019 - 12:57am

As requested, here's the dial alone:

 

Reverend Rob
Posted January 16, 2019 - 11:53am

Hard to say. Not a lot of wear at the edges, but if you look at it with some higher magnification, you should be able to see how well the ink was applied to the dial. The whiteness makes me think it is possibly a re-dial. This is not a big deal but you can always keep a lookout for a donor dial from another LE. 

I should add that anytime I see a movt scratched up it to this extent it makes me think it has spent considerable time outside a watch case, possibly in a drawer. The plates on the movt should be very shiny, except where tool marks have typically marred the surface in specific areas, like around screws. (This should not happen, but it is common)

If the whole top of the movt is scratched up, it is likely that it is a replacement, or for some reason the case back has been off for an extended period of time. Most of the time it is because the movt has been unprotected, outside the case, as in a parts drawer. 

Scratches generally can't be removed easily because you'd have to fully refinish the plates, including electroplating. The 10AN is a very common movt, if this one is broken you can always find another in the right age.

KHatfull
Posted January 20, 2022 - 8:27pm

I thought I'd follow up.  This watch was "wound tight" as you hear so many times.  Just about a week ago I let the mainspring down and, lo and behold, it's working.  And keeping time around -90sec/day.   Not great of course but the fact that it is working is quite a surprise!